SoCal Challenge

[LittleBrave]

There were several possessions tonight where BU was passing the ball all over the court to find an open look. Reminded me of when Les implemented the weave in 07'. This team seems to be pretty unselfish but the players still know when they are open and will take the shot. Great to see.

Well another connection is the last time BU started 4-0 was that very '07 team! Then we faced an undefeated Illini team and came close, but lost in the tourney fina;. This was right after BU set a school record 20 3-pointers vs FL A&M.

Go BRAVES!

[BUfan17]

There were several possessions tonight where BU was passing the ball all over the court to find an open look. Reminded me of when Les implemented the weave in 07'. This team seems to be pretty unselfish but the players still know when they are open and will take the shot. Great to see.

If they can keep it up I think this will be a dangerous team come March. The level of play this early in the year is impressive.

[Big Mike]

Ckean up the T/Os, Hannah & Hickman.....and please make your FTs and bring home the trophy...

[BUfan14]

If they can keep it up I think this will be a dangerous team come March. The level of play this early in the year is impressive.

Isn’t it nice to be playing well against good competition early in the year? When’s the last time Bradley could say that? I was concerned it wouldn’t happen again after the scrimmage, but it finally has. Still a long ways to go and have to keep it up these next few games, but that’s how you take the next step as a program and maybe even get yourself in at large consideration if you keep it up.

[BUfan17]

Isn’t it nice to be playing well against good competition early in the year? When’s the last time Bradley could say that? I was concerned it wouldn’t happen again after the scrimmage, but it finally has. Still a long ways to go and have to keep it up these next few games, but that’s how you take the next step as a program and maybe even get yourself in at large consideration if you keep it up.

It has been a long time. It is still early but this team might just be better than last years.

Not just with the talent on our roster but I think Wardle has really grown as a coach compared to when he started.

[Mikovio]

UTEP is probably going to prove a better opponent than Cal. Cal already has losses to Montana State, Pacific and now UTEP.

[Da Coach]

It has been a long time. It is still early but this team might just be better than last years.

Not just with the talent on our roster but I think Wardle has really grown as a coach compared to when he started.

Every game has been close except Tarleton. So I still think we could see some losses we didn't expect in the future. It could happen tomorrow.
I'm not a Debbie Downer, but I am a pragmatist. One break or two the other way, and Bradley could be 1-3. But sometimes close wins can be good- give a team confidence, and help a team handle pressure and adversity. I'm really enjoying this season, maybe more than any in recent years. But, we have to remember these guys are not hardened professionals and not get too upset over mistakes, turnovers, foul shooting, etc.

[Stryker]

Every game has been close except Tarleton. So I still think we could see some losses we didn't expect in the future. It could happen tomorrow.
I'm not a Debbie Downer, but I am a pragmatist. One break or two the other way, and Bradley could be 1-3. But sometimes close wins can be good- give a team confidence, and help a team handle pressure and adversity. I'm really enjoying this season, maybe more than any in recent years. But, we have to remember these guys are not hardened professionals and not get too upset over mistakes, turnovers, foul shooting, etc.

Completely agree with you Coach. However, right now I am viewing the close games as situations that BU let happen, not that they were "forced" into. For instance, the bad FT shooting vs Utah St. That "shouldn't" happen again this season and the game would never have been as close as it was if BU even just shot 60-65% FT. Then Tulane, just an amazing amount of weird fouls on BU by the refs that is an outlier. That game should have had a lot more separation. I really only view the UAB game as a true "close" game, and it was a road game at a quality opponent.

[BUfan17]

Every game has been close except Tarleton. So I still think we could see some losses we didn't expect in the future. It could happen tomorrow.
I'm not a Debbie Downer, but I am a pragmatist. One break or two the other way, and Bradley could be 1-3. But sometimes close wins can be good- give a team confidence, and help a team handle pressure and adversity. I'm really enjoying this season, maybe more than any in recent years. But, we have to remember these guys are not hardened professionals and not get too upset over mistakes, turnovers, foul shooting, etc.

True they were close games, but those teams are all kenpom top 100 teams (excluding Tarleton which was a 20+ point win).

Had those games been against cupcakes, those wins would be concerning.

[bradleyfan124]

I dont care how close they were. It is still a win. If I remember right in the first year of Dick Versace he had about 10 losses that were 3 points or less. Nobody gave us any consideration because they were close losses. At the end of the year they were still in the loss column

[tomahawk chop]

Halftime observations:

1. Good defense kept is in it until we finally made a couple of shots. I thought the refs called a lot of questionable fouls on us where the contact was initiated from Tulane.

2. Burch is not afraid and I'm glad he is healthy this quick. I wouldn't have thought so after watching him go down. His penetration has been huge to keeping us in the game. He might be the best third point guard right now, and if he keeps passing like tonight might move up quickly in that spot. His shot, passing, and defense are already looking pretty solid. The sky is the limit for him.

3. I do not like Jonovic and Ellis in at the same time. The offense really seems to stagnate as neither can do much outside of Jonovic being tall enough to get occasional offensive rebound tips. Ellis's shot looks broken and it doesn't look like rust to me but poor shot form altogether.

4. Jonovic is still too slow on defense, allowing many offensive rebounds due to lack of position and allowing guys around him a lot. One time he jumped up to block a shot after it was already in the air for a second and past him. The problem is Atlason is still developing on defense and isn't really a 5 anyway. It really hurts to have 3 posts sitting on the end of the bench who apparently cannot play.

5. Christian Davis seems to put himself in good position to do little things. A couple of tips on the offensive glass were huge.

6. I cannot believe we got to 40 not shooting well on offense. Shows we can score in multiple ways. There was no panic either. Finish strong in half two hopefully!

I agree with everything you stated. We were told Ellis was a really good player and I would have to believe if S. Smart recruited him I expected him to be that kind of player. I know he has not played for around 2 years yet his shot looks really bad. The rotation is not right , only hope they can get him back on the right track.Really impressed with our 2 freshman because they are fundamentally sound. My starting 5 after watching the exb. game were, Deen, Hickman, Hannah, Leons and Davis. I also believe Burch and Atlason give us 7 players that give us the the most contributions off the bench. I wish Jonovic and Ellis could do more and maybe they will in time but so far they are struggling.

[Heemeskerk]

Every game has been close except Tarleton. So I still think we could see some losses we didn't expect in the future. It could happen tomorrow.
I'm not a Debbie Downer, but I am a pragmatist. One break or two the other way, and Bradley could be 1-3. But sometimes close wins can be good- give a team confidence, and help a team handle pressure and adversity. I'm really enjoying this season, maybe more than any in recent years. But, we have to remember these guys are not hardened professionals and not get too upset over mistakes, turnovers, foul shooting, etc.

Agree that we will for sure see some lapses in performance as the margin isn't big enough of gap between our team and other solid teams. However I will say there is something to be said for the mentality of a team that "knows how to win". So far that is what we are seeing with this group. Hopefully they continue in that direction. One thing I like is we play as a team. We don't have hero ball and that along with our gritty defense can win plenty of games. Team work and selflessness can go a long way... not to mention we have some pretty good talent on this team.

[tomahawk chop]

The other thing as far as winning is the margins would be higher if we make our free throws.

[Bacci'sAftertheGym]

sorry to revisit a deadpost but thought this would be the appropriate place.

Tulane beat #10 Memphis on Sunday 81-79.
That American Athletic Conference seems just as close as the MVC if not closer.
Another Bradley victim this season, UAB, is currently higher in their conference standings than Memphis.
Sad to say but I think we'll see 2 maybe 3 teams from the AAC getting at-large bids while I doubt MVC will get more than the 1 given to conference tourney winner. (exception maybe being ISUb if they lose in STL)

Hoping to see more games against the AAC next season. Would love to beat down on the shockers and get some more statement wins.

[Da Coach]

Tarleton State has had a very good season. They beat Grand Canyon (NET 46) tonight 77-74 in a matchup of the top 2 teams in the Western Athletic Conference.
Grand Canyon has been getting votes in both the AP Top 25 and the Coaches Top 25 polls. It probably won't help Bradley get an at-large NCAA bid, but combined with a number of other factors, it will add a bit to help improve Bradley's RPI and NET, which could make a difference to the NIT committee if Bradley isn't the MVC auto-bid.